Teacher Council Meetings—For Parents and Called Teachers

Each ward should hold quarterly teacher council meetings, both for parents and for called teachers in the ward. In these meetings, parents and other teachers can counsel together about principles of Christlike teaching (see General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 13.4, 13.5, 17.4, 17.5, Gospel Library).

Both kinds of teacher council meetings are held once a quarter during the 50-minute class time on Sunday.

Teacher Council Meetings For Parents

Who Leads These Meetings? Usually, a member of the Sunday School presidency leads teacher council meetings for parents. However, the bishopric may assign other ward members to lead meetings on occasion.

The ward council, with assistance from the Sunday School presidency, oversees teacher council meetings for parents. They counsel together about the needs of parents and families, and they work together to determine which principles from Teaching in the Savior’s Way will best meet those needs.

Who Should Attend? The ward council determines whether to invite specific parents or to make attendance open to all who want to participate.

When Should These Meetings Be Held? Teacher council meetings for parents can be held on any Sunday, as determined by the ward council.

Teacher Council Meetings for Called Teachers

Who Leads These Meetings? Usually, a member of the Sunday School presidency leads teacher council meetings for called teachers. However, the bishopric may assign other ward members to lead meetings on occasion.

The ward council, with assistance from the Sunday School presidency, oversees teacher council meetings for called teachers. They counsel together about the needs of teachers and learners, and they work together to determine which principles from Teaching in the Savior’s Way will best meet those needs.

Who Should Attend? Everyone who teaches a quorum or class in the ward should attend teacher council meetings. Quorum and organization presidency members are also invited.

When Should These Meetings Be Held? Teachers attend teacher council meetings on a Sunday when they are not teaching their regular class.

• Priesthood quorum, Relief Society, and Young Women teachers can attend on either the first or third Sunday, as determined by local leaders.

• Sunday School teachers can attend on either the second or fourth Sunday, as determined by local leaders.

• Primary teachers can attend on any Sunday, as determined by the ward Primary and Sunday School presidencies. If desired, Primary teachers may meet separately from other teachers to counsel about the unique aspects of teaching children. This can happen during the 20-minute singing time, before or after regular Sunday meetings, or on another day of the week. More than one teacher council meeting may be held quarterly for Primary teachers so that they do not all miss Primary classes in the same week. (Note: As needed, the Primary presidency assigns substitute teachers, combines classes, or makes other arrangements to allow Primary teachers to attend teacher council meetings.)

Format for the Meetings

Teacher council meetings—both for parents and for called teachers—follow this format:

1. Share and counsel together (about 20 minutes). Invite parents or teachers to share what is working well as they teach the gospel at home or in their classes. They could also share challenges they are facing or things they would like to improve.

2. Learn together (about 15 minutes). Discuss with parents or teachers one of the principles in Teaching in the Savior’s Way. Come, Follow Me may also be used as a resource for these discussions.

3. Plan and invite (about 10 minutes). Invite parents or teachers to share what they learned during the meeting and how they plan to apply it.